FIFA to use high-tech aids to review goals

For the first time in the history of the World Cup, goal-line technology will be used for the 2014 games in Brazil. FIFA, the World's soccer governing body, committed on Tuesday to obtaining this technology giving World Cup referees high-tech aids in being able to make goal-line decisions.

Like in other sports that use technology, replays and sensors to correctly determine game altering outcomes, soccer will start using this technology at the Confederations Cup in June and then at the World Cup.

Four systems are currently competing for the rights to use their technology. One of the systems is the camera based Hawk-Eye system, which uses magnetic sensors. Hawk-Eye is already used to great success in cricket and tennis and is a part of Sony Corporation. GoalRef is another system that has already been used in the Club World Cup in Japan just this past December.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has long opposed the use of technology and taking the human element out of the game. However, he has since changed his view since seeing the clear missed call in the 2010 World Cup as England midfielder Frank Lampard scored against Germany as his shot bounced off the crossbar and landed fully over the goal line. Match officials blew that call, which would have tied the game at 2, but eventually ended in a 4-1 Germany victory in the second round of the South African games.

Judgment calls will still not be replayed, but this new technology, which should fully be approved by the IFAB, FIFA's rule-making panel, by April, will finally eliminate the missed calls that have plagued many matches over the years.